When we consider the identity of the author of the July 8th 1974 Red Phantom letter, we have to consider the person they are addressing and what do they stand for. The letter states "Editor: Put Marco back in the hell-hole from whence it came- he has a serious psychological disorder- always needs to feel superior. I suggest you refer him to a shrink. Meanwhile, cancel the Count Marco column. Since the count can write anonymously, so can I----the Red Phantom (red with rage)".

​The obituaryof Marc H. Spinelli began with "Marc H. Spinelli, better known to Chronicle readers as Count Marco, a columnist who gave outrageous advice to women for 15 years. As Count Marco, Mr. Spinelli was a star performer in a circulation war in the 1960s between The Chronicle and other Bay Area newspapers. At the height of his fame, he wrote his newspaper column, appeared on his own daily television show, wrote three books, won prizes and developed a huge audience that was either amused or appalled by his words" sfgate..Most of the people dissatisfied with his newspaper column were disgruntled women, appalled with his views they deemed as male chauvinistic and sexist - so a good case can be argued that the author of the Red Phantom letter was likely a woman fighting for women's rights, upset by his perceived superiority complex. On the flip side, it could be the Zodiac Killer angered by the columnist for putting women down, despite the fact he had no problem murdering them.

His book 'Beauty and the Beast' was littered with distasteful comments towards women, such as 'Someone once asked me, "do you really believe a husband should beat his wife?" And I answered "Yes, most emphatically. There are times when she should not only be beaten, but kicked when she's down". Other examples can be readily found in the newspaper columns running up to the Red Phantom letter of May 8th, shown here in the 'Ten Days of Count Marco' by Zodiac researcher Michael Cole. Two such examples are "Female comics, she says, must play the role of ugly duckling or half-wit in order to get laughs. The real uglies of course are the ones who don't make a living at it: the average American housewife who prowls the public streets with her hair in rollers and her stretch pants defying all laws of container control" and "Besides, if a stewardess can't handle a flippant male passenger, then I don't think she's strong enough to open an emergency door".

So, it wouldn't be too surprising if the author of the Red Phantom letter was a woman with aspirations of equal rights and respect, who was familiar with the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper and despised the views of Count Marco, rather than a serial killer known for stabbing women in the back, and widely portrayed in many Zodiac circles as a man who vented most of his anger towards the women he encountered. This dichotomy, however, is largely disregarded, when the overarching desire is to believe the Zodiac Killer resurfaced in 1974 for phase two of his 'escapades'. Having previously poured huge doubt on the February 3rd 1974 S.L.A letter as Zodiac material (likely authored by a female member of the Symbionese Liberation Army), and questioned the authenticity of the Badlands or Citizen card, we shall now examine the Red Phantom letter from a similar perspective. We shall also look at the origin of the anonymous signature "Red Phantom (red with rage)"

"The United Federated Forces of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) was an American left-wing militant organization active between 1973 and 1975 that considered itself a vanguard army. The group committed bank robberies, two murders, and other acts of violence. In his manifesto "Symbionese Liberation Army Declaration of Revolutionary War & the Symbionese Program", Donald DeFreeze wrote, "The name 'symbionese' is taken from the word symbiosis and we define its meaning as a body of dissimilar bodies and organisms living in deep and loving harmony and partnership in the best interest of all within the body. "This political symbiosis DeFreeze describes means the unity of all left-wing struggles, feminist, anti-racist, anti-capitalist, and others. DeFreeze wanted all races, genders, and ages to fight together in a left-wing united front, and to live together peacefully". Wiki.

The group mailed large quantities of mail to the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, and various television and radio stations, as well as many other outlets. They ranged from demands and threats, to spouting off Symbionese Liberation Army doctrine. Their membership was progressive, having a high proportion of female members with a staunch feminist ideology.

Therefore, bearing in mind the S.L.A letter, is it possible one of the female Symbionese Liberation Army members took umbrage over the Count Marco, San Francisco columnist's views on women and mailed a correspondence to him, telling him to get "back in the hell-hole from whence it came"? Or was the Zodiac having a mid-life crisis becoming more liberal with his views - rather than his bullets.​ Here is a small fraction of the literature composed by female members of the Symbionese Liberation Army and their struggle for equality in the sexes.

The 'Woman Question' referred to in the FBI 'Hearnap' (Hearst Kidnap) files "is translated from the French term querelle des femmes (literally, 'dispute of women') refers both to an intellectual debate from the 1400s to the 1700s on the nature of women and feminist campaigns for social change after the 1700s. While the French phrase querelle des femmes deals specifically with the Renaissance period, 'the woman question' in English (or in corresponding languages) is a phrase usually used in connection with a social change in the later half of the 19th century, which questioned the fundamental roles of women in Western industrialized countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, and Russia. Issues of women's suffrage, reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, property rights, legal rights, and medical rights, and marriage dominated cultural discussions in newspapers and intellectual circles. While many women were supportive of these changing roles, they did not agree unanimously. Often issues of marriage and sexual freedom were most divisive". Wikipedia.

The Symbionese Liberation Army women members often referenced a "cell" or "collective", and this leads us nicely on to the meaning behind "Red Phantom (red with rage)".

Many have searched for the inspiration behind "Red Phantom" from a Zodiac perspective. Comic designers, movie makers and newspaper editors throughout the ages have attributed pseudonyms to fantasy characters and murderers alike. In other words, they have just been manufactured by the imagination of the creator and not necessarily copied or inspired by something previous. The "Red Phantom" pseudonym may just have been conjured up on the spur of the moment. However, I would like to focus on the only word the author used twice - the word "red." If the letter was written by a female member of the Symbionese Liberation Army with feminist ideals, could the word "red" have been invoked for a deeper meaning.

"The late 60s saw the emergence of the Women’s Movement in Britain. In 1969 in London the Women’s Red Liberation Workshop established itself, developing consciousness raising groups and attempting to articulate and understand the ways in which women felt themselves to be oppressed and exploited. In the same year, a group of socialist women active in the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign started producing a journal called “Socialist Woman”, whose aims were both to impress on the left the importance of the “Woman Question” – to publicise the struggles of women in Britain and internationally and to try to develop a socialist analysis of women’s oppression it was to be distributed through the newly formed Socialist Woman Groups".Redflagwalks. There was also the emergence of the socialist-feminist Red Rag Magazine championing women's rights. These publications inspired women internationally, including female Americans fighting for a better future. Were these publications and the rise of "red feminism", the catalyst for a push-back against the male chauvinist 'pigs' of America, including the Count Marco column of Marc H. Spinelli? Or did the Zodiac Killer undergo a complete transformation after murdering three women (5 people in total) - now rallying for "public sensibilities", despite being attributed with the threatening Exorcist letter just five months earlier?

Much to take in,but so well compiled,Richard,and will read it a few times,to look for further clues.

I was not aware,previously,of the Red Rag Magazine,and certainly seems to take its place,in matters of women's rights,so apt in this Count Marco angle.

''Red rag to a bull'' is an expression that immediately comes to mind,given the inference of why the Zodiac might have felt inclined,to write to the Editor.

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Richard

1/17/2019 06:57:28 am

The red connection isn't the most compelling, but I was more interested in guaging the type of person who would have felt compelled to write to male chauvinist Count Marco - a fiery and angry women, or the Zodiac Killer, who I doubt champions women's rights.

......also,a woman's ''sanitary towel''....before I dig an even bigger hole for myself.

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Tom1

1/16/2019 02:37:35 pm

"Red Liberation" refers directly to communism. Not difficult to ascertain. The other references are full of irony and symbolism.

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art

1/16/2019 03:37:26 pm

what was the basis for the Red Phantom letter being attributed to Z in the first place??

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Richard

1/16/2019 03:54:51 pm

Wishful thinking probably. I have no idea why it is accredited to Zodiac Art, but I have just found something new that could back up it being a woman, and a certain individual.

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KayElleSF

1/17/2019 02:45:29 am

Richard, I must admit you make a very strong case. I am prepared to be 100% wrong in all my preconceptions.

KayElleSF

1/17/2019 02:11:59 am

Despite the feminist movement of the time, I don't believe the Red Phantom letter was written by a woman - I get a distinctly masculine vibe from it. I also disagree with the premise that Zodiac would be in any way angered by Count Marco's treatment of women. In my mind, Zodiac was/is a misogynist of the highest order. There is no way he would give two craps about women being belittled or put down.

I'm inclined to think that Zodiac did write the RP letter, and his motivation had more to do with jealousy over the attention The Count was getting, as well as just plain dislike of his flamboyant style.

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Richard

1/17/2019 04:20:04 am

I agree KayElle, I don't think Zodiac would have been upset by Count Marco's belittling of women.

If one was to believe the 2007 Zodiac movie and input from other sources...

Toschi and others were desperate to hear something/anything from Zodiac after years of nothing.

Toschi and others had built part of his career on finding the Zodiac.

Starting with the Exorcist letter. Was this just desperate enthusiasm to give credit to the Zodiac in 1974. HE IS BACK!

OR was there real solid evidence that these letters were Zodiac's. Such as a handwriting match, mikado reference. OR possibly matching Zodiac letters the police held back, unknown to the public.

Just some random thinking on why the average Joe looking at these letters in 1974 might think these letters would come from a myriad of criminal related groups active in 1974 and never think of Zodiac as the source.

Richard

1/17/2019 09:50:46 am

That is a really good question Shawn. I think there is a natural tendency for most good people to give the benefit of doubt or believe something they are being told. Most people I suspect err on the side of giving others the benefit of the doubt. When a letter arrives, like the Exorcist letter after 3 years, there is the same tendency to believe until proven otherwise, rather than disbelieve until proven otherwise. With a back catalogue of 20 odd letters to compare to, it's easy to say "yes, it looks similar, has a similar writing style and therefore I believe it's Zodiac". Too much emphasis is placed on handwriting analysis, which is in the ball-park of eyewitness identification - not an accredited science. The supposed return of Zodiac after 3 years does give a resurgence of purpose to a detective. David Toschi fully believed in the authenticity of these communications, stating in the July 10th 1974 Chronicle "There's no doubt in my mind about either one (citizen card and phantom letter). I took them to a documents examiner and in less than 5 minutes he told me positively they were in fact written by Zodiac". I can understand the willingness to believe the elusive killer is still around, but I don't have much faith in document examiners, accredited or not. I can find you differing opinions on the JonBenet ransom note, and differing opinions by experts in the same field up and down the country (especially in courtrooms). I believe you have to go with your own opinion on this Shawn. I have virtually zero doubt that the S.LA letter is not Zodiac, the Red Phantom and Citizen card I doubt, the Exorcist letter is arguable. I know people will disagree, which is good, because I certainly don't claim to have the definitive answer - I suppose it's the most persuasive argument that will tip us all one way or another.
Reading in the newspaper "he is back" is a newspapers dream from a circulation aspect, fanning the flames and stirring up fresh interest in the case. "Another hoax letter" or not reporting it at all, ignites no interest. Once the sensational story has broken, it is easy to get swept along with all the propaganda and euphoria, simply wanting to believe rather than employing a more guarded approach. But attempting to discredit all four 1974 letters I would suspect will be met with scepticism, particularly with regard to the Exorcist letter. It could be a case of the Zodiac returning for that letter, followed by three communications that were just misinterpreted as Zodiac. The Exorcist letter may have been the hook, and the rest just assumed to be follow ups. An egotistical Zodiac mentioning nothing about Zodiac in his letters has often been interpreted as a murderer turning over a new leaf. How do we then reconcile this with his obvious threats on the Exorcist letter- potential murderer on January 29th, great guy on May 8th worried about murder exploitation. Something doesn't tally for me. I certainly cannot get inside a murderer's head and claim to know his mind, but the "a friend" and S.L.A communications a matter of days apart takes some explaining. If I had to stick my neck out, I think all four were designed and authored by a woman member of the Symbionese Liberation Army, who were copious correspondents in 1974. My only reservation is the Exorcist letter. But I understand the willingness to wish they were true, or the genuine belief that they are.

Yes,Richard,I struggle to get past Count Marco's words,in an article about women owning their husbands,one week before the [claimed] Zodiac letter :

''You may possess a thing or an object,and you yourself might be possessed,as in the film,''The Exorcist''.But you can't possess another person.''

Seems like there was a bit of verbal ''GBH'' going on,between Spinelli and Zodiac,just prior [?].

Good to hear KayElleSF's opinion.And ''the more the merrier'' for female contributors,for this topic,that still asks pertinent questions,related to women's rights.

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KayElleSF

1/17/2019 03:39:53 pm

Thanks, Rubi! I’m rethinking my position as I recall the time period and the events Richard is so brilliantly researching and writing about. I’m reminded just how “radical” the radicals were in the early 70s. So yes, a female member of the SLA could have written the CM letter despite its Zodiac feel— I was an 8yro kid in SF when Patti Hearst was kidnapped and it can’t be overstated what a big deal it was. It’s all anyone could talk about for months on end. I remember the drama unfolding on the news every night. I remember being worried about her and being shocked when she “joined” the SLA. They were the first news events that I clearly remember and probably the cause of my true crime interest and news junkie tendencies.Lol

Richard, you have done a great job casting serious doubt on these various mid-70's letters. It would seem wise to massively de-prioritize those and focus instead on proven/canonical evidence.

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Richard

1/17/2019 12:13:06 pm

The trouble is Art, I have covered all the canonical crimes to
exhaustion, to the point of boring people to death, which is why recently I have concentrated on outlier letters and murders. There are still some rich pickings out there on undiscussed topics, but with Lake Herman Road, Blue Rock Springs, Lake Berryessa and Presidio Heights it gets more difficult to create a new articles the more you write. There's only so much in the well, so to speak. I have believed for a long time the killer lives very close to the Springs and Tuolumne payphone, but what I believe will make no difference to the outcome of the case. The only people who can truly solve this case and push it forward are the people assigned to law enforcement, but I doubt they are the slightest bit interested in anybody of unofficial standing. It would be nice if our voice was heard, but sadly this is not the case. Thanks Art.

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BB

2/3/2019 09:46:35 am

Is there any family relations between Ralph Spinelli and Marc H Spinelli ?

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